The opening titles arrive at exactly the right moment. When a mythical horned equine suddenly expires, accidentally struck by a car, the words “Death Of A Unicorn” immediately fill the screen. It’s an enjoyable moment of schlock, gesturing to B-movie heritage, a nod to monster movies of yore. If only that sense of goofy fun fully permeated to the rest of Death Of A Unicorn. In the post-Get Out world, this is yet another bit of genre silliness that attempts, with noble intent, to staple some big, timely themes onto its goofy narrative, to somehow legitimise the daftness. Sadly, neither its high-minded nor low-minded efforts amount to much.

Paul Rudd is in both Embarrassing Dad Mode and Embarrassed Dad Mode as Elliot Kintner, an attorney being groomed for big things with the wealthy Leopold family. Rudd can do bumbling beta-male charm with his eyes closed at this point, but...